Here are interview excerpts with Ice-T and Melissa Sagemiller for the new episode of Law & Order SVU, titled “Pop” , part of a double header which begin on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 9 PM ET on NBC.

Detective Saliyah "Sunny" Qadri (Aghdashloo) goes in search of Brooklyn District Attorney Page Ferguson, who she fears may be in danger. Qadri finds Ferguson just in time to witness her fall from the top of a parking garage. When Benson (Hargitay) arrives, she discovers that the crime scene has been tampered with. Benson turns to an old friend, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Danielson (guest star Gloria Reuben) for help. As the investigation progresses, Benson begins to question Ferguson’s suspicious past and Qadri’s involvement in the case.

Debbie Shields (Cook) comes home to find her partner Ann Jackson being raped by a man wearing a haunting mask. Shields contacts Ann's father to notify him of her critical condition. As detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Chris Meloni) interrogate Ann's father, Captain Jackson (Irons), his sordid past is revealed filled with sexual and alcohol addiction. Jackson's new role as a sex therapist is hindering the detectives from getting the information they need to solve the case and if Jackson won't comply, the detectives are going to have to get creative.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

This past October, BBC AMERICA brought the hit show Law & Order: UK home to the U.S. and now it’s continuing with an all new season in 2011. Airing to incredible audience enthusiasm, critical acclaim and even a parody on Saturday Night Live, Law & Order: UK is based on Emmy award-winning producer Dick Wolf’s long-running crime franchise. Set in and around London, Law & Order: UK follows the familiar and much loved two part format: beginning each episode with a crime, followed by the legal and court proceedings to convict the criminal. Law & Order: UK stars Jamie Bamber (Outcasts, Battlestar Galactica), as Detective Superintendent Matt Devlin, Bradley Walsh (The Old Curiosity Shop) as Detective Superintendent Ronnie Brooks, Ben Daniels (The Passion, The State Within) as Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel, and Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who, Little Dorritt) as Junior Crown Prosecutor Alesha Phillips. Law & Order: UK Season 2 premieres Friday, January 14, 9:00p.m. ET/PT.

Friday, December 17, 2010

It’s a double header for Law & Order SVU when it returns in January 2011. Two episodes – “Pop” and”Possessed” - will air on January 5, 2011, beginning at 9:00 PM ET. (Update December 22: the original NBC press release listed the episodes as "Pop" and "Dirty".) Here are the details:

"Pop"WHEN YOUNG BOY’S BODY IS FOUND ON A PARK CAROUSEL DETECTIVES UNCOVER A DISTURBING GAMBLING RING

A young boy is found dead on a park carousel after being dropped off by his uncle Joe Gilbert (guest star James Carpinello). When Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) learn that the boy was beaten to death they suspect that it could be the result of a bully at school. The investigation leads to an unsettling gambling ring. Detectives suspect that Gilbert’s acquaintance, Joe Roberts is beating his wife Sandra (guest star Drea de Matteo) and the case takes a horrifying turn.

"Possessed"A young man finds that his girlfriend Larissa Welsh has been attacked in her apartment with evidence that points to her buried past. Detectives Benson and Stabler go in search of her attacker and discover that an elderly man, Orville Underwood, may have been involved in traumatic events of Welsh’s past. For the detectives, solving the case comes down to who was in possession of the evidence.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Law & Order UK “Skeletons” was more about the skeletons in James Steel’s closet than it was about a serial killer who was preying on children. It seems that James Steel thought he had the right man in jail for the killings. But, when more killings occur despite the fact that the man convicted for the previous crimes was in prison, they find out that the wrong man was jailed. The “Wright” man is eventually arrested and James Steel’s wall comes tumbling down. Based on the original Law & Order episode “Trophy” from season 6, “Skeletons” features a magnificent performance by Ben Daniels. What makes the episode especially sad is that this is Ben’s last episode with the series. It’s frustrating that he's out the door just as we get a real look into what makes James Steel tick, not only of his love for the law and justice, but of his affair with another woman while he was married. And just as it looks like there may be something else in the cards for James and Alesha (Freema Agyeman), cranky George Castle has to interrupt with an ill-timed phone call, leaving us all to wonder what could happen between those two (if anything).

This episode was a little off formula with the focus more on James Steel rather than on the crime that opened the show. But, the episode still works well as we are given plenty of courtroom drama, plus a lot of tension as Steel fights for his professional life and for his reputation. George Castle also chooses a man to prosecute Steel who is a major jerk, which not only proves troublesome for Steel but also for Phillips, who finds herself booted out of her own office. There is also tension between CPS and MIU, when Steel accuses Ronnie (Bradley Walsh) of making a mistake and Matt (Jamie Bamber) and Chandler (Harriet Walter) come to his defense.We are also treated to wonderful scene staging and camera work. I especially loved the end which was in view of the London Eye (AKA Millennium Wheel) with Steel and Phillips surrounded by blue lights. I think that Law & Order UK may be the best of all the shows in the brand as it comes to highlighting its home city and creating scenes where all the main characters look their best.

This is also the last episode that we will see Bill Paterson as Director George Castle. He is scheduled to come back at a later time in a recurring role. Still, I will miss his character’s always cranky persona and his interesting viewpoints on things.

This was a great finale to the season, and I am looking forward to new new season with the new cast. But...Ben Daniels will be greatly missed!

Here is the recap:

DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) along with a search team, search the banks of the river for a missing boy, Shaun Monroe. But, he’s not by the river, the boy’s body spills out of a drainpipe as Devlin watches. The boy is dead. He was killed by a single blow to the head; killed then dumped into the drain. Devlin finds a note on the body which says “They must be destroyed”. Brooks comments that he did not think he’d see that again.The detectives inform CP James Steel (Ben Daniels) and Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) of their findings. It sounds like the MO of Andrew Dillon, a racist who Steel put in jail years before. Dillon was recently beaten up in jail. Dillon did have some supporters.

At the Cross Arms Pub, the detectives speak with one of Dillon’s supporters, Kyle Matthews (Jon Foster) who has an alibi. He said he attacked no one. As far as the original crime, Kyle said Dillon didn’t start it, he was mugged

At MIU, the detectives find the time of the boy’s death rules out Matthews. Based on the boy's stomach contents, they decide to visit local shops. They find a video of him on a store camera and the store clerk recall him talking to the security guard, Marcus Wright (Jude Akuwudike). Later, they speak the with Wright who says he saw the boy at a news stand and sent him on his way and walked him to the shopping center and headed toward Beckton. They decide to talk to the boy’s friends.

At St. Justin’s Church hall, the detectives speak with Shaun’s friends. One boy wonders if he went to see Darren, one of the older guys at the church hall. They speak with Darren Powell (Tom Stuart), who says Shaun didn’t stay long and walked with him to the DLR and said he was going home.

Back at MIU, the detectives confer with DI Natalie Chandler (Harriet Walter). Darren used to be a dance teacher and now runs a talent agency that no one has heard of, from his own home. He seems to go around playgrounds targeting disadvantaged kids. Angela (Jessica Gunning) tells them Powell used his card but not at the time or place where Powell told them he’d been.With Powell in MIU interrogation, the detectives question him about 95 minutes of time he was not accounted for. He said he wanted to shake Shaun off. They press him why he left his teaching job without a reference. Powell admits that he got too involved with a pupil, a boy who was being abused by his stepdad and the boy was scared of his dad so he lied about it. This is why he could not let Shaun into his house. Chandler enters and signals for Ronnie, whispering something in his ear.

Later, the detectives are at the scene of where another boy’s body has been found. He was strangled by his tie. There was also a note on the body – “They must be destroyed.”

Natalie Chandler holds a press conference about this new development of the killing of Dev and makes an appeal to the public for anyone who has seen anything to come forward. A reporter asks about the identical notes on the body, but Chandler will not discuss details. More questions ensue, asking about whether this is a serial killer and whether it relates to Andrew Dillon’s racially motivated killings. One reporter accuses Chandler of lying but she says they are doing their best to solve this.Elsewhere, Brooks and Devlin speak with Dev’s friends. The kids are evasive but Brooks threatens to check CCTV. They finally admit they were near the shops taking things and Dev got caught by police.

Back at MIU, the detectives discuss that it seems this wasn’t reported by police and they wonder if it was a security guard who got Dev. They recall Shaun also had contact with a security guard, Marcus Wright. They later question Marcus in his home about both boys and he says it is a coincidence both boys ran into a security guard. But, he then admits he did catch Dev, but let him go. He adds that both boys sinned, and Devlin notices Wright’s bible. Brooks continues to press Wright while Devlin begins to read a passage from the bMIible. Wright grabs the book and a cross on a chain falls out. Devlin asks if it is Shaun Monroe’s crucifix and Marcus says no. Devlin asks if he would put his hand on the bible and say that.

At MIU in interrogation, they continue to question Wright and mention the crucifix and also a St. Anthony medal they found at Wright’s that belonged to Dev. Devlin reminds Wright he has a right to a solicitor but Wright says he doesn’t need one telling him what to say, he listens to God. He says the two boys were sinners and God sought revenge and that God picked them. Wright says Shaun was looking at porn while wearing a crucifix and Dev ripped off an image of St. Anthony and then stole some perfume, and Wright caught him but he got away. He followed him. Wright goes on about St. Anthony and says the boys had to be destroyed. He said God wrote the notes through him. Brooks asked if he got the idea through Andrew Dillon, and Wright says Dillon did not kill any of those boys, and he admits he killed them – all of them.

Later, James Steel, there with Phillips tells Brooks and Devlin that this is a sick attempt to take credit for someone else’s crimes. But, Marcus Wright knows too many details and he kept souvenirs that were never found. Steel still thinks he got the right man, but Brooks says there was another white boy who Wright killed after Dillon was jailed. The police dug up a skeleton for a white boy where Marcus said it would be and they found the same note in the pocket. Wright buried this victim because his mother was ill and he confessed to her and he didn’t want to be found out. His mother begged him to stop and then she died a few weeks ago. Brooks says it is Wright – they put away the wrong man.Steel tells CPS Director George Castle who is upset at the news. Steel explains they had a solid case against Dillon. Castle worries about a lawsuit and that locking Dillon up led to three more boys to be killed.

At CPS, Andrew Dillon (Peter McNamara) is there with his brief and informs Steel he is being sued for malfeasance in public office, and Steel says they can’t target individuals. The brief reminds Steel that he did, against Dillon. Steel remind them he did everything by the book and the jury found Dillon guilty. But Dillon’s brief calls it selective prosecution, and mentions that a witness, Janice Hunter, made a statement to police 6 years ago that she saw the third victim an hour after he was seen with Dillon. The man she saw fits the description of Marcus Wright. Steel seems surprised. The witness has since died. Steel says he’s never seen this before, but the brief thinks Steel buried it and it is the basis of their claim. They plan to sue him for 300 thousand pounds. Steel insists the evidence points to Dillon, but Dillon accused Steel of tampering. Dillon says it is Steel who is prejudiced as Steel decided the killer had to be white. Steel gets incensed and shouts back that he knows Dillon knows how those boys felt. Dillon accused Steel of persecuting him. He says Steel owes him for stealing 5 years of his life.

Back in his office with files piled all over, Steel says no one gave him that statement, he would have known it because it jeopardized his whole case. Phillips comments that they are saying that this is what Dillon is saying was Steel’s motivation. He says he would have handed it over. Many people worked on the case, Claudia Martin was his lead assistant.

At Craddock & Shoenmann’s, Phillips speak with Claudia (Genevieve O'Reilly). Claudia asks how Dillon’s brief found the statement, and Phillips comments that he would not say. She says she does not recall the statement either. Claudia comments that is the year of her life she will never get back. Claudia talks with Phillips about working with Steel, which she described as intense and said she could not keep up with the pace and she sold out to private practice.

Later, Steel tells Phillips he spoke to the others on the team that he could track down. Three of them quit CPS and others never saw the statement. Steel wonders if the statement never came in to CPS, the police wanted to put Dillon away as much as they did.

In George Castle’s office, he tells DI Chandler that they are tracking down the receptionist who worked in the office at that time to see if they recall DS brooks bringing in the statement. Chandler testily responds that she doesn’t need anyone else’s word for it, she trusts Ronnie. A missing witness statement is a criminal offense and it is her duty to investigate it. He tells her he trusts his people too and they have nothing to hide.Back at MIU, Steel talks with Brooks about the statement and Brooks can’t recall the details of who he gave it to. Devlin overhears their discussion and asks Steel if he thinks this is their fault. Steel asks Brooks if he could have made a mistake during “that time” and when Devlin hotly questions what he means, Chandler tells Steel just to say what he is thinking. Steel asks if someone on his team could have buried the evidence, and Devlin says James has balls. Brooks tells Devlin to leave it, and goes on to say he handed it into the office but he can’t recall to who or when. When Steel continues to press, Chandler shuts him down and tells him to get his own house in order.At CPS, Castle sees Steel working on the files and says Chandler called and said the statement from Janice Hunter was entered into the police database and that Dillon's defense team got a copy of it three days later and Janice Hunter’s statement was not on it, and that schedule came from the CPS. Someone in his office must have deleted it. Steel thinks this means someone knows who signed for it, and races off to find out. He runs into Brooks and Devlin, and Devlin arrests him under suspicion of perverting justice and reads him his rights. Later, still is fingerprinted and mug shots taken.

Back at CPS in Phillip’s office, Cain is speaking to Castle and when Phillips walks in, he introduces himself. He tells Phillips since he will be calling her as witness it is not appropriate for her to be working in there. When she says this is her office, he says not any more. He tells her to take what she needs and set up in the paralegal’s office. She is stunned. Castle says they cleared a space for her and it is only a temporary measure. He begins to get her things but when Cain begins to confer with Castle, Cain asks her to leave.Later, Phillips runs in to Steel on the street and asks how he is doing. He said he needs her to do something for him – to get him some files from the CPS. She says she is not allowed in their office. He begs her and then walks off.

Back at CPS, Phillips looks through files in a darkened office, and then must hide when Cain arrives there. He stops and looks around but gets a phone call and walks out. Phillips is hiding and he does not see her.

At Crown v Steel, Alesha Phillips is testifying. Cain asks her about the Donald Marsh case and under pressure, she admits she did not approve of James’ methods. When he asks if Steel ever asked her to do anything dishonest or compromised in the eyes of the law, and she says no. Steel breathes a sigh of relief.

Claudia Martin is testifying about her work on the Andrew Dillon case, and says Steel interviewed several expert witnesses before he found the one he needed. Steel gets uncomfortable. She said he told the handwriting expert that his evidence could prevent more children from being killed. Steel comments that this is hearsay from a prejudiced witness but the judge says he will have his chance to examine her. March says she left the CPS because she felt uncomfortable with Steel’s way of working and he was determined to convict Dillon. She says she did not delete Janice Hunter’s witness statements and she knew nothing about them.

Steel glares at her, and then asks if it was true she was having an affair with the defendant (meaning himself) at that time. Both Cain and Martin look stunned – and so does Phillips. Cain wonders if this testimony is necessary and Steel says if they are to believe her he must be allowed to ask these questions to her motive of trying to sully the reputation of a former colleague. The judge allows it. Martin answers that she was having an affair with him for a year and that he ended the relationship. He continues to press her for details, she whispers he is a bastard. She admits she told him she loved him. When he asks if she felt betrayed, she said that is an interesting choice of words coming from a man who was cheating on his wife. Steel accuses her of using the trial as a platform for revenge and that she is lying about her reasons for leaving the CPS. She says he used her and he knows she would have done anything for him. He says this is why the jury should see the evidence for what it is – the emotional backlash of a woman scorned.Later and outside, Steel is waiting for Phillips and asks her if she got it. She give him a large file. She glares at him and he asks – what? She says he will really do anything to win. He said he had to discredit her evidence against him. Phillips comments that Martin was just collateral damage. He says, “yeah…thank you” and walks off.Back at Crown v Steel, Steel is on the stand. He is questioned about his success rate of 93% and if winning drives him. He says it is about doing his job properly. Cain asks him about Dr. Merrick being acquitted of rape in 2009 that Steel had him arrested on a fiction rape charge. Steel said Merrick abused his position and attacked 14 women. He used the system to get him back into court. Cain said Steel used a questionable loophole, but Steel said he used a flaw in the system. Cain asks if he is above the legal system, and Steel hotly comments that he didn’t know he was on trial for the successful prosecution of a serial rapist. Cain says Steel takes the law into his own hands and for that he is on trial. Steel says he works within a system that he cherishes and respects and the courtrooms are cathedrals of belief in a just society. But Cain says who allows him to play God? Steel counters that it is not about playing God and there is no value about putting away a man for pride or statistics. He adds where Cain is standing in an honor and that honor carries a responsibility which sometimes means taking away someone’s liberty. Cain asks what happens when Steel sees a piece of evidence which shatters his clear cut mage of right and wrong. Steel says he goes back and rebuilds his case. He says they build walls; pieces of evidence are like blocks and each block is dragged into place so that when in court they have a wall that can’t be breached. If defense has something that can take away one of those blocks, the walls come tumbling down and he loses – we all lose because he hasn’t done his job properly. Cain says this is why they are here, he asks who is the lead prosecutor on the case and Steel says he was. When Cain asks who should take responsibility for Steel not doing his job and for this miscarriage of justice, Steel replies that if he had seen that statement, he would never have buried it, knowing that the real killer could still be out there and could kill again. Cain mentions that the evidence was incomplete and that’s what happened – Steel’s walls came tumbling down.

On day 10 of Crown v Steel, Steel calls Sally Ann Hope (Rochelle Neil) to the witness box. She is a paralegal secretary who did temp work at the CPS at Ludgate Hill. She worked there 6 years ago for two weeks in August. It was during the Dillon trial. Her brother was 10 and she had to get him off to school and it was her first job and she was worried about being late. He asks if she recalls a CID officer coming to reception on August 11. She said he gave her a package with evidence about the Dillon case. She handed it to Claudia Martin. Steel looks satisfied and Cain looks like he just got screwed.At Crown v Steel, the verdict is read, and Steel is found not guilty.

Later, Steel has a press conference, with George Castle by his side. He says he still holds himself responsible for a miscarriage of justice. The wrongful conviction led to the deaths of three children. He adds his position has become untenable and he is resigning from the CPS immediately. The reporters begin to shout out questions.Outside, Steel walks with Phillips, who comments it is weird coming to work without him there. He says she will get used to it. They joke about it. He moves closer to her and says her name and looks into her eyes…and her phone rings. It’s George – and she has to take the call. She answers the phone and says she is on her way back now. She continues on with the call as she walks away from Steel – but stops looks back at him. He whispers it’s all right an motions for her to go. She nods at him and he nods back – and she walk off. As Steel stands there alone, we fade to black.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Law & Order UK “ID” was based on the original Law & Order episode “Promises to Keep” from season 3, and it wasn’t too much like that original episode, at least not from my memory. I thought that “ID” was a very intense and gripping story. Was the little boy who was convicted for a murder years ago the same man who killed his girlfriend? Getting to that answer took almost the entire episode and was worth every minute. I had to do a little reading on what is a “life license” after watching this episode as I hadn’t heard that term before. If I understand it correctly, a person who has been given a life sentence can get out on something like parole, but the person can be called back to prison for the full life term if they violate the conditions of their release. (If that is incorrect, if someone form the UK could explain it to me I would be grateful.)

This case posed a challenge for James Steel (Ben Daniels). By doing the right thing to prosecute the killer of the latest victim, George Castle (Bill Paterson) sternly warns him about the effects on the justice system should certain facts come out. Steel finds a way to get at the truth and get the real killer, but sadly their original suspect appears to have been killed in prison before he can be released. It’s a very somber ending to an unsettling case for James Steel.

Here is the recap:On October 16, 1977, at Crown v Wells, young Billy Wells (Matthew Loreti) is being given 12 years for the killing of Yvonne Macy and her unborn child.

At the present day, at Royal Hampton Hospital, DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) are investigating a murder of a woman in the hospital car parking. She is a junior house officer, Alice Cullen.

Back at MIU, they find that they can’t see anything on CCTV and there were no witnesses. The attacked seemed personal. They did not find her keys at the scene.

At the home of Alice Cullen, Brooks and Devlin search her flat. Devlin finds a photo from an ultrasound – Alice was pregnant.Back at MIU, they have confirmation Alice was 10 weeks pregnant. A few dark hairs were on her clothes which were sent to DNA, and Alice's fingerprints along with those believed to belong to her fiancé were found at the flat. The fiancé is there at MIU, along with her parents, to ID the body. The detectives speak with all three of them. They knew she was pregnant. Her fiancé, Joe Nash (Matthew McNulty) remains silent. As they take his fingerprints, Joe becomes upset. Alice’s parents tell Brooks they should check into her last boyfriend, not Joe.At the racquetball court, the detectives speak with Alice's ex-boyfriend and they mention Alice's visits to casualty while she was seeing him. He said he moved on. Devlin tries to get a rise out of him, and it seems to be working. He tells Devlin he’s changed – he’s had anger management and did not do this. He says at the time of the attack he was with his PA.Later, Brooks tells DI Natalie Chandler (Harriet Walter) that the ex's alibi is confirmed. They decide to check Joe Nash’s alibi but they can’t seem to find anyone in Chinatown that saw Joe at the time he said he was there. Back at MIU, Brooks mentions Nash made three calls that night and none of them were to Alice. And none were from Chinatown. He called Daniela Renzo, Joe's psychiatric social worker. The calls place him at Alice’s, the area where she was attacked, and at Daniela’s just around bedtime. They think he’s having an affair. Chandler wants to put it to the test to see how he would do on the 10 o’clock news.

At Royal Hampton Hospital, they speak with Joe about making an appeal on television but he is reluctant and he blows them off.

At the home of Daniela Renzo (Nicola Walker), she says Joe is a client and nothing more. He suffered from a severe childhood trauma, but can’t go into details because of confidentiality. They tell her about Alice’s murder. She says Joe did not want Alice to know about the appointments and he was not ready to share that part with her. He was hoping he would get to a place where he did not need to tell her. He got there at six and called before he got there, and left at about 8. He called again as he left his jacket there. He was there with her at the time of the murder.

Afterwards, the detectives talk about how Daniela gave an alibi without even asking. And Joe was lying about his whereabouts – he wasn’t in Chinatown.

They speak with Joe, who admits he was ashamed to tell them about needing a psychiatric social worker to help control his nightmares of monsters chasing him. He went to Alice’s flat that night and she was not home. He went back to Daniela's to check her jacket. He did not know his jacket was missing until he got to the Chinese restaurant – sleep deprivation makes him confused. Joe seems rattled.

Later, Brooks notices how Joe is dressed and remarks he thinks Joe is an ex-con.

Back at MIU, Brooks finds that the office that arrested Joe long ago was DS Marvin Douglas, who was transferred back to London from Manchester 6 months before. He knows that because Marvin was an usher at his second wedding which took place a month after he got back. The signature is Marvin’s, and he could not have signed the certificate 6 months after he left.

Brooks tells this to Chandler, who wonders why someone would tamper with the archive. Devlin spoke to Daniela’s landlord who said he took in a parcel for her the night of the murder and tried to deliver it to her 3 or 4 times but she was out for the evening. Chandler tells them to bring them both in, either she’s covering for Joe or they are both in it together.

At MIU, the detectives speak with Daniela and Joe separately while CP Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) observes. Joe admits he and Alice were going to meet at the restaurant but they had a fight at work and he got upset so he tried to call Daniela but she did not answer. He went later at 10:30 and called from outside, but she said she was going to bed and she never let him in. Joe won’t say what the argument with Alice was about and Devlin ramps up the pressure on him. Joe says he needs some sleep and wants them to stop, but they don’t. Joe finally says it is his diary. She said it disgusted her. Joe begins to sob. He said he never meant to. He says she was on the ground and was all scared. She was always picking on her. He had blood on his shoes, and said he never meant to, he should have stopped them.

In the other room with the lights flickering, Natalie Chandler is with Daniela. Chandler comments that Daniela is more than just his social worker, and Daniela says she has no idea what she is asking.

Meanwhile, Devlin arrests Joe and reads him his rights, Brooks asks if he wants a brief.But Joe says he is not Joe Nash. They gave him the name Joe Nash and they have him a new name and a new passport and the home office arranged it.

Daniela is telling Chandler that she was assigned to Joe to manage his new identity – he is on life license.

Joe tells the detectives that 15 years ago, when he was 11, he and his mate killed a teacher Yvonne Macy and they have 6 years to go on their life license. He is not Joe Nash, he is Billy Wells.CPS Director George Castle (Bill Paterson), James Steel (Ben Daniels) and Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) are at the Offices of the Directors of Public Prosecutions. She tells them that Joe Nash shared a cell for 3 months. Nash has a long history of psychiatric illness and suffers from a delusional disorder and can appear normal. She is certain he is not Billy Wells, who has a wife and child. Any hint of his claims his is Billy will create problems for all of them. She suggests they offer Nash a deal which would get him a hospital order and will mean Ministry of Justice approval for any future release. Steel will talk to his brief.

Steel speaks with Joe's brief Eli Smart (Benedict Wong) about Joe and the plea of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Eli wants time to discuss the offer with his client but Eli and Steel shake on the deal.

At Crown v Nash, the charges are read, and all the barristers seem to think this is a done deal until Joe pleads not guilty - and they all look shocked. Afterwards in the robbing room, Steel and Phillips are incensed at Eli, Steel saying he thought they had a deal. Eli has no idea what happened. Back at CPS, Castle is also perplexed. Phillips tells them that Eli has had a change of heart, and when Steel looks at the paperwork, he says he has to be joking – Eli is saying Nash was coerced into confessing.At the legal visits room in Ashbridge prison, Steel tells Joe to take the deal otherwise the jury will hear confession which will send him to prison. Now Joe is saying he is not Billy Wells and he did not kill Alice, Eli adding that Joe was confused when he made those claims. Eli tells him to look at the confession tapes again because those coppers took too much for granted. Joe never actually said he killed Alice.Steel and Phillips look at the tapes of the detectives interrogation and Steel reads back the transcript. He says Joe is not confessing to killing Alice, he’s confessing to the murder of Yvonne Macy, using the exact same words. Later, Steel and Phillips dig though the files from that case. Steel thinks there are too many odd things with this and too many coincidences. If he is Joe Wells he belongs in hospital but if he is Billy Wells they need to charge him accordingly. He just wants to know, one way or the other.

Later, Chandler tells Steel that the prints came back as belonging to Joe Nash. Steel mentions the diary that Joe mentioned, but it is not in evidence, Chandler says it was never found. Steel asks if they have Wells DNA on file and they check it against Nash’s? Chandler said there was no DNA profile in Billy Wells’ file. He asks if she doesn’t think that suspicious.

Steel and Phillips visit the Dangerous Offenders Unit, the woman is reluctant to give them any details or to help them in any way.

They speak with Daniela Renzo about why no one has a record of her being assigned to Joe, but she says for her to talk to them she needs a signed letter from Joe giving full consent. She tells them she is a witness for the defense and they can ask her any questions in court.

Back at CPS, Phillips tells Steel that Joe Nash is moved to the vulnerable prisoners wing because he was attacked yesterday. They wonder why, thinking maybe someone recognized Joe. Steel says he needs to speak with Joe now.

Steel and Phillips visit Joe at prison, and Steel flat out asks him if he is Billy Wells. Joe shakes his head no. Steel says Alice died just like Yvonne. Steel asks who he was talking about in his confession, and Joe said he did not kill Yvonne Macy. He said what those boys did to that teacher was sick. Joe gets upset and says he is not Billy Wells. Joe pounds on the door to get back to his cell.Steel and Phillips speak with Chandler, who said there were certain details of Yvonne's case that were kept out of court to spare her husband’s feelings and the press would have made a meal of those kids. Steel asks her to answer one question - was Yvonne Macy found with her underwear in her mouth? She says she doesn’t need to look, she knows. The only way Joe Nash would have known that was if he was there when Yvonne was murdered. Joe Nash is Billy Wells.

In Castle's office, Steel thinks that Joe Nash should be charged accordingly. Steel thinks the public has the right to know the truth and does not want to cover it up. But Castle says if this gets out, the whole criminal justice system comes under file, and no child will never get a chance at release again, People want to bring back the death penalty and this is the ammunition they need. Steel thinks the jury should decide the fate, but Castle said there is a risk of trial by tabloid. It could spell the end of jury trials altogether. Steel asks if Castle is asking him to be part of a cover up. Castle says sometimes the truth causes more harm than good and tell him to talk to Eli again and maybe in light of this new information he can persuade him to take the plea. He said to do it before the DPP finds out what he’s been up to, otherwise he could find himself back in defense.

When Steel and Phillips speak with Eli, he says this changes nothing. He was hired to defend Joe Nash and this is what he was doing. Steel says if it come out Joe will not get a fair trial and it is in Joe’s best interest to keep it out of court. Elli agrees to book a visit.

Later, Chandler drops a large file on Steel’s desk and tells him not to ask where she got it. It’s Billy Wells' prison records. She marked up a section that records identifying marks .

Later, in the prison visits room, Steel tells Joe and Eli that Billy Wells has a 3 inch scar on his left arm from a suicide attempt. Joe says he is not Billy Wells but Steel asks him to pull up his sleeve, and the scar is clearly visible. He begins to talk about the toubles he had in prison and how they used to leave nooses in his cell. When he walked out of the prison he vowed he would never do anything to get him back in there. He said he is Billy Wells, but he’s done his time and he never killed Alice. Steel asked who killed her, and he thinks it’s someone who found out who he was and tried to frame him. Steel says the DNA will prove his guilt and Joe should take the deal or he will stay in prison for the rest of his life. Joe says he would take the deal if he could. He tells them to find the diary and read what prison did to him. If they do and if they think he still killed Alice then he will see them in court.

At CPS, Steel and Phillips discuss the missing diary. According to Eli, anyone who read the diary would know he was Billy. At Daniela’s home, Brooks and Devlin are searching - and the diary is located there.With Daniela at MIU in interrogation, Phillips and Steel are in the observation room with the diary. They think Joe gave it to her because he wanted her to know he was Billy Wells and it would have threatened his new identity.

Daniela says Joe begged her to get the diary back and she had no idea Joe killed her. Chandler takes Daniela’s DNA. Daniela admits she crossed the line and should have never allowed Joe to manipulate her. Chandler gives the DNA swab to someone telling him it is urgent. Steel says they have a DNA profile from the scene, and when Daniela moves to leave, Chandler orders her to sit down. Daniela say Billy is not a killer it was Darren Pearce who killed Yvonne. But Steel says Billy did not stop him. Billy was a damaged child and she said he needed her. He told her everything because she was his lifeline. But she said she did not read his diary. Steel reads part of it where Joe is telling Alice he does not need Daniela anymore and only needs Alice and that he told Daniela he wanted to stop the appointments. Chandler says Daniela was afraid Alice was taking Joe away from her. Chandler says she was waiting for her in the car park. Steel mentions the hair they found but she says she was only there to talk to her and they were making a mistake. She said Alice could not love Billy Wells. She just went to get the diary, but Alice would not listen. She said Alice fell against the car door and hit her head. Steel said Alice’s head was slammed against the car door over and over and it was no accident. Steel says Joe did not ask her to get the diary, in fact, Joe never suspected Daniela would kill Alice, but she is the real monster. Daniela said she just wanted Alice to shut up and she didn’t deserve him. He used to sit on her sofa like a little boy and she wanted to tell him everything would be alright. He could not marry someone who knew who he really was. Steel says Daniela was prepared to let him rot in prison to save her own skin, to control him and keep him dependent on her. Steel asks what sort of love is that? Daniela said he always came running to her, and Steel asks if she knew Alice was pregnant. When Daniela seems surprised, Steel says that maybe he didn’t tell her everything after all. Chandler arrests Daniela for Alice’s murder and reads her rights. Alice sobs.

At the White Horse pub, Elli is at the bar and Steel gives him Billy Well’s release papers. Phillips said he is a fee man, but Eli looks despondent. Eli tells them Billy was found hanging in his cell two hours ago. Steel asked if he killed himself, and Eli says that he can believe that if it helps him sleep at night. As Steel looks downward, dejected, we fade to black.

Law & Order UK “Denial” was based on the original Law & Order episode “DNR” from season 10. In that episode, a bitter husband plans a hit on his wife, who is a judge, but she lives. The same thing happens in “Denial”. While the story didn’t feel new, this episode offered a little more for Director George Castle (Bill Paterson) to do other than just barking orders and being cranky. Castle seems to be able to connect with the dying judge by reminiscing about the past and calling her to her duty as a member of the court. It was a great scene for Paterson.

Law & Order UK not only does a great job at telling a story, but I am always impressed with the set and camera work and their selections for on-location scenes. They are doing a wonderful job of highlighting the city of London, yet still keeping the scenes feeling natural and not staged. So while “Denial” may feel like the same old story, one can clearly tell it’s not being told in the same old place!

Here is the recap:

High Court Judge Rachel Callaghan (Juliet Stevenson) appears to have been shot during what seems like a carjacking. Her husband Dan (John McArdle) races to her aid. Later, DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin arrive at the scene. It seems that Rachel sprayed her attacker in the face with red dye gel and they should be able to catch him “red handed.”

At the hospital, Rachel is alive but in surgery. The detectives speak with Dan. He saw nothing suspicious. He had been the one that was driving but he took in a mirror for her while she parked the car. The Callaghan’s daughter Lindsay (Georgina Rich) arrives.At the Mortlake Industrial Estate, the car's GPS tracking device has been located but not the car. PC Griffin (Michael Maris) gives them the device and the plate info. Back at MIU, the detectives tell DI Natalie Chandler that Griffin seems to have missed spotting the car that was in the security video. Two people appeared to have been in the car. Angela (Jessica Gunning) arrives and tells them they found the Mercedes and Chandler sends Brooks and Devlin off.

They check out the car, but the man driving says it is his car, not stolen. Later, at MIU, the driver, Nick (Oliver Le Sueur), said he did not know the papers were forged and that the car was stolen. He just bought it yesterday but is worried if what will happen to him if he says who sold him the car. He admits he needed the car to look the part of a rich banker. He looks at a photo array and identifies Martin Flynn, but said he had no red paint on his face.

At Camden Close House, the detectives arrive at Martin’s apartment with an armed team, and Martin (Duane Henry) escapes. But Devlin is waiting in the alley and apprehends him. At MIU, Martin is questioned and identified Eddie Wade as the man who shot the judge. They tell him they found the gun that likely shot her in his flat. He said he knew nothing about the murder and only wanted to scare her. He said Eddie already had stolen the car when he asked Martin to help him and Eddie had paint on his face. He just wanted Martin to take the car to the dealer to be shipped abroad. But he knew someone who wanted the car and sold it to Martin anyway. He said Eddie had a something bigger that had nothing to do with the Mercedes.

Later. The detectives and Chandler discuss whether the bigger deal was the shooting of the judge. Chandler tells them to set up surveillance for Eddie’s flat in case he comes back for the money. As Rachel’s husband Dan knew where she would be, they wonder if he was the one who orchestrated the hit.At the hospital, the detectives speak with Dan and he doesn’t know Eddie. And only he knew when she was getting home. He gets angry when they ask questions about his marriage. Brooks and Devlin tell Dan they want to speak with Rachel alone. They show her a picture of Eddie Wade and she identifies him as the man who shot him. She also said when she get out of the car she expected Eddie to just get in a drive away but realized he meant to kill her anyway. They go over what she did up to that point, and said her husband was being childish about coming back, he had to take a tacky old mirror out of the car and take it inside. It was his idea to take in the mirror.

At MIU, they look at phone records for the phone Eddie gave to Martin, and a call came from a pager at 11:45 AM. The sales clerk doesn’t recall who bought the phone so they are checking the CCTV cameras to see who bought it. They also decide to talk to the judge’s clerk to see if she knows who else knew Rachel was on the way out.

In the chambers of Judge Callaghan, the detectives speak with Andrea and find that she told them about a conference that Rachel was to attend and she confirmed her attendance the last afternoon. The judge has had some threats made to her because of the nature of her cases. They ask for her on-going case files.

Back at MIU they look at the cases and focus on one case the judge was building against Walter Reeves, a site manager who works a protection racket and the judge was about to ruin him. One of the companies Reeves has is his pocket is Aeroclear where Eddie Wade worked there up to three years ago and who also does repairs on the building the judge lives in. The concierge may have known what went on, so they bring him in to MIU about it and he says he does not want to get involved. He admit he’s the one who blew the whistle on Reeves and the judge left his name out of the case file for his own protection.The detectives speak with Mr. Smith (Edward Hughes) who own Aeroclear and says Reeves has been a thorn in his side for a long time. He does not think that Eddie’s and Reeves paths would have crossed, though, adding Eddie would not have worked on the judge’s building. He adds he got a maintenance contract 7 years ago on Dan Callaghan’s recommendation. He said he and Dan did a lot of work together before he and Eddie fell out.

Back at MIU, the detectives explain that Dan and Eddie have a past history with his construction work and apparently Eddie did a lousy job and Dan was all over him.They bring Dan to MIU for questioning. The show him a photo of Eddie and he denies ever seeing him before. They bring up his past with Eddie and Dan still says he can’t place him. They confront him with more facts and he said the workforce on the construction project let him down. He also said it was his wife’s idea to bring in the mirror. Devlin says Rachel said it was Dan’s idea and that they had been arguing earlier in the day. Dan gets irate. Devlin continues to press and Dab gets more upset. He feels badly about Rachel, who has now lost the use of her other kidney and she is getting worse. Dan tries to make a quick exit but Brooks arrests him on conspiracy to commit murder.

In court, Dan is in the box for the bail hearing where a conflicting statement given by Rachel obtained by Dan’s barrister Simon Wheeler (Terrence Harvey) is read. CP Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) argues the facts they know. Phillips objects to bail as the crown believes Dan will try to interfere with the witness – his wife. They both make their arguments and the judge grants bail of 50 thousand pounds.

Back at CPS, Phillips and CP James Steel (Ben Daniels) discuss the case with Director George Castle (Bill Paterson). Dan does not seem to have moved a lot of money, they don’t have a trace on the cell phone yet, but Dan lied about knowing Eddie Wade. All they have is circumstantial evidence and the word of his wife. But George seems bothered by the situation.At Royal Hampton Hospital, Phillips tries to get information from Rachel. She said she did not tell Dan they had to leave early until mid-day. The call to the man who shot her was made at 11:45. Her daughter Lindsay tries to console her. Phillips explains about Dan’s lies, but Rachel says they have no case and if they prosecute Dan she will give evidence in his behalf. Lindsay tries to chime in but gets silent.

Later, Lindsay catches Phillips outside and Phillips asks about her mother and father’s relationship. Rachel intends to sue the hospital for causing renal failure. Lindsay says her father adores her mother, and says it is not about money, Rachel’s estate goes to Lindsay’s kids.

Phillips gives the information to Steel that there is no financial motive but there is an eyewitness who says she saw Dan in the garden that day in his running shorts. Dan was also at a party the night before where Dan was drunk and introduced himself as Mr. Rachel Callaghan and sounded bitter and he and Rachel ended up arguing. But they need motive.At Jordan Callaghan Architects, they are told Dan had to be let go. Dan was a perfectionist and would not listen to his clients. Rachel also didn’t seem to have known he was fired. He also had helped put Rachel through law school and Dan wanted Rachel to be proud of him. She was going to retired and Dan was going put a deposit on some land and build their dream home, but then she got promoted.Phillips later tells Steel that the deposit for the property was 25 thousand pounds and Dan got the deposit back for 20 thousand in cash. They think Dan started plotting her death after her promotion. Steel gets a call and finds that the phone Eddie used to make the call was used within 500 meters of the Callaghan cottage.

They give Rachel the news and she still refuses to believe it. She adds that they did have an argument that day and Dan went outside to cool off. He wears his running shorts around his house. Lindsay tries to get them to back off. But then Steel tells them that Dan lost his job 5 weeks ago. Rachel looks shocked.

At CPS, Castle is having a drink when Steel and Phillips give him the news. He had heard about it. He says Rachel has asked the doctors to withdraw her medication and she wants to die.

At Crown v Callaghan, Steel argues that the statement the defense presented against Rachel was false and he wants to examine her via video. Steel wants the jury to make up their own minds and if he can’t do this Dan will get what he wants – his wife’s alibi followed by her death. She is allowing her husband to go unpunished and Judge Hall (Diana Quick) agrees to allow it but if Steel pushes Rachel one step too far she will stop the proceedings.

Later, Steel talks this over with Castle who has concerns, but Steel says he will be careful.

In the hospital room, Rachel sticks to her story saying Dan never left her sight and someone else must have known they were leaving early. Steel tries to poke holes in her story and continues to press about their marriage and that Dan did not tell her he lost his job. She did not know, though, that Dan took back the deposit on the plot of land. She says that is a check trick. Steel says it is the exact sum of money that the shooter was promised. Steel reminds of her oath as a judge and that she has made sacrifices for the law so how can she bear for this to be her dying act? He asks what would she do if she were Steel? Rachel says she is sure she saw him. The Judge Hall ends the cross examination.

Afterwards, Steel tells Wheeler that he is not dropping the charges. Wheeler says he got what he wanted. Lindsay asks Steel if Rachel stuck to her story, and when they tell her yes, she says deep down, she knows it was her dad and so does her mother, but out of guilt Rachel will never admit it. Lindsay spent her whole childhood trying to get her mother’s attention and so did her father. Lindsay wants Rachel to see her and her kids and think they are worth living for. But, alarms go off and they find Rachel has disconnected he dialysis machine. The nurses race to her aid.

Later, Steel is back in court, challenging Rachel’s mental fitness as Rachel attempted suicide and is too depressed to think rationally. He wants her examined by Dr. Armitage. Wheeler makes his argument but Steel says the doctors are withholding withdrawing treatment until this issue is resolved. Judge Hall giver permission.At the Strand, Judge Hall tells Castle that Rachel refused to answer question and Armitage recommends she be put on suicide watch.

Back in court, Judge Hall says she has no choice but to declares Rachel not competent to give evidence in Dan’s case.

Later, George Castle goes to visit Rachel. They share past memories.

Back at CPS, Phillips and Steel try to understand what Dan did. Dan and Wheeler arrive and said they intend to appeal Judge Hall’s decision. When Phillips asks why he doesn’t just divorce her, Dan says he loves her but he goes on to describe how she talked to him.

Back at with Rachel, Castle tries to convince her to live and literally gets in her face about it. She says Dan’s love for her was the one thing she could rely on. Castle tells her to do the right thing and tell her the truth. She says they had a row and he stormed outside. As she continues to tell her story to Castle, Dan tells his story to Phillips and Steel. It comes out that Dan did set it all up. Castle says now that she admitted it there is no need to die, but she says she got the court approval to terminate her treatment and it is not irrational to die when you have been ultimately betrayed by the person you love.At Ludgate Hill. Castle tells Steel and Phillips that the court will allow Rachel to terminate her treatment and it won’t be long. She wants her husband with her.

Later, at the hospital, Dan is escorted there by George Castle and the police. George watches from outside as Dan embraces Rachel, and she dies. As Castle looks away sadly, we fade to black.